Automatic car-coupling.



A. M. BASIC.

AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1914.

1,120,587, Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

$1 /%1 10 Z2 [MENTOR a g flwlb ll TED SAT ANTHONY BAlCl, OF SPALATO, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed July 11, 1914. Serial No. 850,337.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANTHONY M. Basic, a subject of the Emperor of Austrial-Iungary, residing at Spalato, Dalmatia, Austriad ungary, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Gar-Coupler, of which the following is a specification.

My invention primarily has for its object to provide an improved automatic car coupler of a simple, economical and compact construction, in which the cooperating parts are so designed and combined whereby the operation of coupling or joining the opposite draw heads is readily and positively accomplished.

lVith other objects in view, that will hereinafter appear, my invention consists of the peculiar arrangement and construction of the several parts that constitute my said improved coupling means, all of which will be first explained in detail, specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved car coupling means, the opposing draw heads being shown coupled, parts being shown in section to the more clearly illustrate their interlocking arrangement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one of the draw heads with its coupling devices, the latter being shown set in position for being automatically released for coupling with an approaching coupling link of the opposing draw head. F ig. 3 is a similar view, the coupling member being shown as held locked from being moved to a coupling position by an entering coupling link, a portion of the figure being elevated but to be read as one on lines wwm.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, the draw head 1 includes two side members 10 that extend forwardly from the rear or transverse portion 11, integral with the rearwardly extending shank 12, which supports and connects with the buffer spring devices 13 arranged in any well known manner. Each of the side members 10 includes an integral vertically extended and forwardly projected arm let, the front ends of which are integral with the cross portion 15, which forms an upper jaw and whose lower face merges with the upper straight portion 16 of the link receiving recess or throatway formed between the said upper jaw and the lower jaw 17 which latter, as is clearly shown in the drawing, projects beyond the upper jaw, and includes a solid cross portion 18. To facilitate the entrance of the coupling link 2, presently again referred to, the under edge of the upper jaw and the upper face of the lower jaw, at the entrance end thereof, are curved as at 1919. The inclined upper face of the lower jaw is formed with a groove or depression 19 that extends nearly the full width of the jaw at the outer or entrance end thereof and converges toward the inner end of the said jaw to thereby form side guide flanges 19, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. The inner end or base of the throatway is of semi-circular shape and at the said base the draw head is formed with a transverse combined stop and cross bar, as shown.

1 3 designates a rock shaftthat is j ournaled between vertical extensions of the side arms of the draw bar, and 30 denotes a double acting trigger or looking member, which in cludes a bell crank shaped body, one member 31 of which has a straight hook 33 that projects at right angles from the said member 31 and the other member 32 thereof has a curved hook 3 1. The locking member 30.

also includes a weighted extension 35 that is so projected from the said locking member 30 to cause said member to normally assume the positions indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The coupling link 2, before referred to, consists of a fiat body whose opposite ends terminate in transverse heads 20. The heads 20 are circular shape in cross section and are of such diameter that they will ride freely into the throatway or passage between the upper and lower jaws of the draw heads. Providing the link 2 with a coupling aperture 21, at each end, and making the throatways for the links in the manner shown, the link when coupled up with one draw head is thereby always held in a true horizontal position when approaching an opposing draw head, under a coupling or bumping connection with the said opposing draw head.

The openings 21 in the coupling link 2 are sutliciently larger than the diameter of the coupling pin that extends therethrough to allow for the full lateral shifting of the opposing draw heads when rounding curves and for positively directing the penetrating or coupling end of the link 2, so that it positions upon the lower jaw onto which it passes, the ends of the said link having pendent lugs that cause the said link to properly center, relatively to the draw head into which it enters, as it reaches the limit of its movement into the throatway and thereby bring its coupling, aperture 21 in correct position for the passage therethrough of the coupling pin, which engages the said link in the manner clearly shown in Fig. l.

By referring now more particularly to;

Fig. 2, it will be noticed the lower jaw has an aperture 4: that tapers from the bottom and is curved on an arc concentric with the fulcrum or pivot of a coupling member 5, which includes a hub 50 pivoted between the side members of the draw head and in a plane below the upper face of the lower jaw. The member 5 also embodies a rearwardly extending weighted arm 52, and a downwardly extending arm 54: that merges with an upwardly projected curved pin 53 whose inner and outer faces are curved in different radii (see (4-4)) to thereby give the said pin 53 a taper shape to cause it to freely enter' and pass through the tapering aperture & in the lower jaw of the draw head and to enter a tapered socket 4:0 in the under face of the upper jaw.

By reason of the, peculiar construction of the several parts that constitute my invention so far as described and shown, a very simple, inexpensive and effective coupling means is provided, since to set the coupling hook to a coupling position it is only necessary to swing the weighted extension of the coupling device 5, in the direction of the ar row 1 and interlock it with the straight hook 33 on the tripper member, the end of the said weighted extensionhaving a bail 57 for receiving the said hook. When thus adjusted, the other member of the bell crank shaped tripper hangs pendently in the path of movement of the coupling link as it enters the throatvvay of the arrow 2, (Fig. 2) and asthe said link strikes the said member 32, theweighted end of the coupling member or device 5 is released, and as the said member 5 swings bygravity in the directionof the arrow :0, the hook end 53 thereof passes up through apertures in the lower jaw and the coupling link, and thereby effects the coupling up .or joining of the opposing draw heads. l/Vhen it is desired to uncouple the joined draw heads, it is only necessary to elevate the weighted end of the coupling member, which can be done by a flexible connection 8, as shown, or in any other suitable manner.

To hold the coupling member or device locked from swinging into a coupling position during the operation of pushing or bumping the cars, at times when the coupling thereof is not desired, the bell crank tripper device 30 is swung in the direction shown in Fig. 3 to cause its curved hook at to engage and interlock with the bail 57 on the weighted extension of the coupling device, it being understood that the deep or positive hook connection 34: provides for I draw head, under one adjustment thereof,

it has a double function, since it forms means for holding the coupling device to the uncoupled position, that is,the cou pling hook 58 down, and also a tripper device adapted to be engaged by an incoming coupling pin for releasing the coupling device so it may automatically, by gravity, swing so its member 32 couples up with the link and jaw. The said member 30 also serves another function, since under another adjustment it forms, as it were, a means for positively holding the locking device 5 against moving to a coupling position.

The draw head is supplied with suitable lubricant holding pockets for lubricating the journals of the couplingdevice and of the tripper device. a

While the detailed arrangement of the several parts that constitute my invention,

show up a preferred and practical embodiment of my invention, I desire it understood that the said details may be-readily modified or varied without departing from my invention or the scope of the appended.

claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a car coupler, a draw head, a coupling link, a weighted coupling pin and a latch for holding said pin retracted, said latch including a member adapted to project into the path of the coupling link for engagement thereby to releasethe latch and permit said coupling toenter the link, said latch also including a supplemental portion ber to hold said pin portion retracted, said latch member including a portion projecting into-said mouth to be engaged by said link as said link enters said mouth to release the latch, said projecting portion also having a latch portion for engaging said pivoted cou pling member to hold said pin retracted and inoperative.

3. In a car coupling, a draw head having a mouth, a coupling member including a pivoted portion and a pin portion carried by said draw head and counterweighted to continuously tend to project said pin portion into its coupling position, a corresponding link adapted to enter said mouth and be engaged by said pin portion when projected, a pivoted latch member including a latch portion to engage said pivoted coupling member to hold said pin portion retracted, said latch member also including a portion projecting into said mouth to be engaged by said link as said link enters said mouth to release the latch, said projecting portion including a member adapted to engage the pivoted coupling member to hold it in a non-operative position, said latch member including a counterweight for holding said latch member in either of its latching positions.

at. In a car coupling, a draw head having a mouth, a coupling member including a pivoted portion and a pin portion carried by said draw head and counterweighted to continuously tend to project said pin portion into its coupling position, a corresponding link adapted to enter said mouth and be engaged by said pin portion when projected, a pivoted latch member including a latch portion to engage said pivoted coupling member to hold said pin portion retracted, said latch member including a portion projecting into said mouth to be engaged by said link as said link enters said mouth to release the latch, said projecting portion also having a latch device for engaging said pivoted coupling member to hold said pin retracted and inoperative, said latch member including a counterweight for holding said latch member in either of its latching positions.

5. In a car coupling, a draw head having a mouth, a coupling member including a pivoted portion and a pin portion carried by the said draw head and counterweighted to continuously tend to project said pin portion into the coupling position, a corresponding link adapted to enter the said mouth and be engaged by the said pin portion when projected, a pivoted latch member for engaging the pivoted coupling member to hold its pin portion retracted and including a portion to be engaged by the link as the said link enters the said mouth to release the mouth, and co-acting means on the link and the draw head mouth for centering the link as it enters the said draw head mouth.

ANTHONY M. BASIC. lVitnesses:

CAP. DONN Basic, Grvn. MARIO GoMoNA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. p 

